Taking a big action, Wildlife Lahore Rangers on Sunday raided a house in Begam Kot area of the provincial capital and arrested the man who had removed the hide of a lion besides recovering a large number of mummified dead wild animals from his home, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.
Deputy Chief Wildlife Rangers Lahore Region Sakhi Muhammad Joeya said that the man and his accomplices would remove hides of these animals, later preserved them before selling them.
He informed that a case had been registered against the main suspect named Haroon.
Elaborating further, he said that three to four families were involved in the practice.
He, however, said that the remains of the lion whose hide had been removed could not be found.
Joeya went on to say that embalmed bodies recovered from the house were of lions, tigers, crocodiles, monkeys, parrots, pigeons, rabbits and others.
On Saturday, 24News TV channel reported that the Punjab Wildlife Department had launched an investigation after a video showing a dead lion being skinned went viral on social media.
The department said it had constituted a special team to probe the incident and identify those responsible.
Chief Wildlife Ranger Lahore, Sakhi Muhammad Joiya, is leading the team.
Officials said legal proceedings would be initiated under relevant wildlife protection laws, with a case set to be registered against the suspects.
“Strict action will be taken in accordance with the law,” a department spokesperson said, adding that those involved would be brought to justice.
Reporter: Samra Fatima